The Beginning

In 1987, it was my senior year in high school. Public education was finally coming to an end. From as far back as I could remember, school was always a breeze for me. They give you the books, tell you to read the stuff, then in a week they test to see how much you've retained. A simple formula to me, plus my Momma wasn't going for bringing home bad grades. She had it fixed in my mind that she would never have to come out to school for nothing. Ever.
I was designed to follow good directions. It was good that I didn't have the power to make decisions for the first 16 years of my life, but boy was the time coming.
Graduation is fast approaching, and everyone is talking about college choices. I knew that I wanted to go away to a school that had a marching band. Staying home to attend school, in my mind, wasn't going to college.  I loved playing the trumpet. I loved to here all the parts from other instruments blending in my ears. I could play my part and listen for everybody else's part, and sometimes I would turn around if I heard something wrong coming from another horn section. Senior year, I was the drum major for marching band. It was not an easy task being the leader of over 150 people. NO PUNKS. During concert season, I would switch from trumpet to French horn. I was a real beast on French horn. We were practicing hard because the school was going to allow us to do a concert during school hours. We planned on rocking the student body. As things go, the band director became sick. So what happened? My right hand man and I took it upon ourselves to direct the band. We were some real bandsmen. We killed it.
I was receiving letters from schools now, I just wasn't focused on them. Hell, I was 17, and prom was coming. I guess the adults in my life weren't focused either, because they never laid out a plan for me.   Did I mention that I was good at following directions?
Just about everyday, my right hand man and I would catch a ride home with the band director. He
was like our father at school. Plus, it was cool to get a ride to my front door. Often times he would tell us to bring our instruments, and we would travel to other high schools to show them how it was supposed to be done. We could play. One day riding home, the band director was asking about our college choices. He listened a little, and his major input was for us to leave home and attend school. Then I broke out and said, "I wanna major in music". My band director's advice was that I should should go into computers. "That's where the money is". Did I mention that I was good at following directions?
That fall, I found myself at Virginia State University. A nice place. I loved the people. The band was a lil weak from where I came from, but it was good to be away. I was selected for All CIAA band for my freshman, sophomore and junior years. I was still loving this band stuff. I finally did quit the band, but I walked across the hall and joined the concert choir. I was selected All CIAA tenor. In the first 3 years, I changed my major twice, but I was now majoring in Technology Education. Simply put, a woodshop teacher.